Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro
Many people around the world harbor a deep-seated hatred towards the newly elected President of the United States.
Because of the many derogatory diatribes against especially people of the South, not excepting Africans and/or Namibia for that matter, Namibia may be under the false illusion that she may be in a league of her own in this regard.
Ironically, he has directed his racist rhetoric, bordering on fascism at times, against those who have just returned him to power.
But such to them has not been less inconsequent than his trademark electioneering resolve during the recently ended presidential elections to “Make America Great Again.” Indeed, this is what the world should take seriously above all else.
What does this truly signify in the current era of multilateralism, which is considered a global village? Whether multilateralism is indeed what America, and/or the United States of America (USA) proper, genuinely believes in, especially the second sequel of Donald Trump. Or whether this has been just Trumpism.
While the USA is portraying itself as a mere participant in a multipolar global geopolitical system, this is a far cry from the truth and reality. For few of the countries, if any, except perhaps Africa, does national interest come second to none.
Neither the USA, Russia, China, you name them. Multipolarism is only acceptable to them as long as it serves them, first and foremost, well. This implies that the major global players prioritize their national interests above all else.
Yours Truly Ideologically, one cannot help but muse where Africa, and Namibia for that matter, figures in this geopolitical configuration. Descriptively, normatively, pragmatically, practically and ideally.
The big players prioritize their national interests when dealing with Africa, Namibia, and the rest of the South. Thus, the much-trumpeted multipolarism serves as a convenient vehicle to further the national interests of big, self-anointed world powers.
However, these powers, along with their citizens, may internally define their avowed national interests.
Africa, of all places, Namibia included, cannot take for granted the clarion call, resolve, and determination by the incoming American president to “make America great again.” Africans, both on the continent and in the Diaspora, should recall how America initially rose to prominence. Through the transatlantic slave trade. Literature abounds as to how the American economy was built on slavery, so quoting any would largely be an academic exercise. Reference cannot be made to slavery only but also to colonialism. Because colonialism was a functionality and/or vehicle of imperialism and imperialism, in turn, a vehicle of capitalism.
To a large extent and degree, the world is still operating according to the North-South axis, with the South, predominantly African and Latin American countries, still providing raw materials to the North. With this continued economic exploitative relationship, defined as trade, what has actually been happening is the North continuing to strip the South of its natural resources for shipment to the North. The South then purchases these resources in processed form at prices that are prohibitive.
This is commonly referred to as trade between countries in the South and the North. In reality, a mechanism exists whereby the North obtains raw natural resources at a low cost from the South.
Therefore, the context of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” is the skewed economic relations between the USA and the rest of the world, where countries like China and others provide important countervailing power against the USA’s global economic dominance.
Africa is merely a pawn in the global geopolitical and economic chess game. Every time a new president takes office in the USA, the country sets and clarifies its agenda for Africa, the South, and the rest of the world. Rarely has Africa established its own agenda, instead of readily and unquestioningly embracing and enforcing the USA agenda.
In this instance, such as “Make America great again.” How does this resolve by Trump resonate with the South, Africa, BRICS, and last but not least, Namibia? Yours Truly Ideologically, one cannot help but muse if this resolve by Trump will ever dawn on the people of the South and how they will, if ever, position themselves for it.
Cognisant of the fact that America has been “great” or perceived to have been great simply because of what it has been doing to the rest of the nations of the world that, at best, have been a cheap reservoir for the USA’s strategic minerals and at worst, a dumping ground for her surplus goods.
Thereby suppressing local prices and causing the collapse of some industries. “As Washington contemplates a new phase in its relationship with sub-Saharan Africa—a region that will soon see a significant demographic dividend in the form of its youth population-it should remain mindful of Beijing’s efforts.
China continues to expand its global footprint, going beyond the Indo-Pacific and using non-kinetic sectors to undermine the interests of the United States and its liberal democratic partners.” Wrote researchers Daniel Runde and Sundar Ramanujam in a Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) 2022 Brief.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), among other things, is set to expire next year. According to them, even critics of AGOA would agree that it has had a “net-positive” impact on the region’s trade volume and economic diversification efforts. But be that as it may, such may have been a matter of a trickle-down effect. The USA prioritizes and is motivated by its own self-interest. In this instance, it may be perceived by her (the USA) to be threatened by China, in which she is and has been in fierce competition. Not to mention the fact that it is and has been a unilateral preferential trade arrangement whose benefit can be extended or withdrawn by the USA at any time.
Yours Truly Ideologically cannot but recall some members of the US Congress questioning South Africa’s continued inclusion in AGOA. Over her stance on Russia and China. This is nothing but an indication of “make America big again” in reality.
